Tensions Rising
With the tensions happening recently, I’m struggling. I had to deal with watching those who are sworn to protect and serve murder more people with no remorse, re-evaluate relationships, watch as places burned and more people get hurt, deal with the fear for my brother’s life as a Black male in this country, deal with a shooting on my street where my child could have been killed in her own bedroom, watch people in a work from home group that I’m in lose it over a new pay structure, etc. I’m an emotional wreck.
My Heart
Through it all, my thoughts were becoming darker with each day. I started questioning why I had to love and forgive people who hate me simply because of the color of my skin. Why does it seem that good people are constantly trodden upon? Why do the poor get poorer and the rich get richer? Why does it seem that every time someone manages to pull himself or herself up, there is someone there to knock them down? Why does God allow this?
I had to pray. I reached out and asked for prayer. My heart was changing and not for the better. My anger was taking over and starting to bubble over. This verse really reached me.
Do Not Sin
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26
I prayed hard that my heart would be forgiving and not hard. That if there was a situation that was not good for me, then I need the strength to get out of that situation. The best way was for me to unfriend people and remove myself from certain groups on Facebook. I’m continuing to pray and started journaling again. I started focusing on things that are going to build me up and move me forward. I can’t help anyone else move forward if I’m sliding backward.
With what is going on right now, it’s easy to speak out of anger. However, choose to pray before you say a word. Do not be vindictive and tear others down. We must speak the truth in love. Sometimes, it’s best to be silent and pray. Speaking out of anger fans the flames. In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the devil get a foothold.
Prayer
Lord, I’m praying for the safety of our nation. I’m praying for justice to prevail and for racism to end. I’m praying for people to come to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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